khandor’s sports blog

Where does your favourite team rank at the halfway point in the regular season schedule?

Related:

What it takes to win the NBA Championship

There are three main phases to the game of basketball:

i. Offense;
ii. Defense; and,
iii. Rebounding.

Developing an accurate understanding of the overall NBA talent which exists on the roster for each team at the beginning of the season is a fundamental aspect of properly evaluating the day-to-day goings-on across the league over the course of the season.

INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF TEAM ROSTERS IN NBA’S EASTERN CONFERENCE [as of Sun-Dec-25-2011]

Upon hearing the first report that the Phoenix Suns were actually thinking of waiving Mickael Pietrus … after his failed physical with the Toronto Raptors … the first thought which came to mind was that he would be a fantastic pick-up for Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics.

To wit:

=========================

Suns waive Mickael Pietrus

Before the Suns’ preseason home game against the Nuggets, head coach Alvin Gentry was asked why Pietrus wasn’t a fit, and to him, it seemed clear that Pietrus, for whatever reason, just wasn’t happy in Phoenix.

“I don’t know that,” Gentry answered. “I was excited about getting him. I think that, like I’ve said, he had size, he was really kind of our kind of player — a big guy that can shoot the ball, three-pointers and stuff like that. I think in order for it to be a good fit, you’ve got to want to be here. And I’m not sure if he was ever fully engaged in being here.”

UPDATE: Pietrus is “leaning heavily” towards signing with the Celtics, reports A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. He would need to clear waivers first, but if that happens, it looks like Boston may be at the top of his list.

=========================

After being under-valued by the Suns organization, since his acquisition last season from Orlando … where he was a key player in the Magic’s run to the NBA Finals in 2008-2009 … it would be poetic justice for Pietrus to become a vital part of what the Celtics are attempting to do this year [i.e. reduce salary overall WHILE remaining competitive in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference].

… here are two separate video montages for your viewing pleasure:

———————

which should be mandatory viewing for all authentic basketball aficionados.

[PLEASE NOTE: If you're truly interested in what provided the motivation for this blog entry, then, take a minute and drop by, "The Bird-Dirk Advance Stat-off," authored by Neil Paine. ]

Do yourself a favour.

Take a break from your otherwise busy day, sit down, relax, and read Arash Markazi’s entire article about how:

———————————————————————–

Brian Shaw has persevered despite tragedy

There is a closet inside Brian Shaw’s bedroom that takes him back to a time he wishes would stand still.

He finds himself inside the small room every summer in late June, on the floor, touching the remnants of a past he can’t let go.

He unzips a garment bag, takes out a shirt his father wore to work, his mother’s favorite coat, his sister’s jumpsuit. He hugs the clothes, brings them up to his face and close to his chest as if he were still hugging and kissing those who once wore them.

This wasn’t how Shaw was supposed to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and championships, alone, surrounded by old clothes and fading memories. Reliving the horrible night of June 26, 1993.

———————————————————————–

When you’re done, you will not regret it, at all … and, have one less reason to cheer against the Lakers next season.

Sit back and enjoy the fireworks!

PART I

PART II

A simply scintillating night of basketball.

FYI …

This continues the “unofficial entry” for yours truly in the annual contest run by Henry Abbott: 

Eastern Conference, Semi-finals

[1] Chicago [QIR/#1] vs [4] Atlanta [QIR/#15]
SELECTION: Bulls in 5.

[2] Miami [QIR/#2] vs [3] Boston [QIR/#5]
SELECTION: Boston in 6.

==================================

Western Conference, Semi-finals

[4] Oklahoma City [QIR/#9] vs [8] Memphis [QIR/#9]
SELECTION: Thunder in 7.

[2] Los Angeles [QIR/#4] vs [3] Dallas [QIR/#7]
SELECTION: Lakers in 6.

The NBA Playoffs are set to tip-off in approximately 40 minutes.

This year, there are a number of teams with legitimate aspirations to win the league championship, including:

Chicago Bulls [EC1]
Miami Heat [EC2]
Boston Celtics [EC3]
San Antonio Spurs [WC1]
LA Lakers [WC2]

based on:

#1. The overall ability level of their rotational players;

#2. The specific ability levels of their bonafide “star” players;

#3. The ability level of their coach [and his staff];

#4. The prior experience of their rotational players; and,

#5. The prior experience of their coach [and his staff]. 

Below this elite group, there is a larger 2nd tier, that is very strong, as well, but with individial teams that fall just short of the 1st tier, in one or more of the above criteria, including:

Dallas [i.e. deficient in #2]
Orlando [i.e. deficient in #2]
Oklahoma City [i.e. deficient in #3 and #4]
Denver [i.e. deficient in #2 and #4] 
New York [i.e. deficient in #1 and #3]
Philadelphia [i.e. deficient in #2 and #4]
Atlanta [i.e. deficient in #2, #3 and #5]
Portland [i.e. deficient in #1, #2 and #4]

Below this 2nd group, there is a 3rd tier, which contains individual teams that are not quite where the others are … as of yet … in terms of “readiness” to advance beyond the 2nd Round of the Playoffs, based on the criteria above AND specific personnel absences, including:

New Orleans [i.e. missing a key player in David West]
Memphis [i.e. Playoffs newbies]
Indiana [Playoffs newbies]

Given how close the top 5 teams are to one another this year, and to what degree the eventual outcome can/will be determined by a single crucial injury, at an inopportune moment …

Kudos to Marc Spears [Yahoo! Sports, NBA Analyst] for going out on a limb, early on, with his prediction for this year’s championship-winning team.

Related:
Odds To Win The NBA Championship

FYI …

This is the “unofficial entry” for yours truly in the annual contest run by Henry Abbott: 

Eastern Conference, Quarter-finals

[1] Chicago [QIR/#1] vs [8] Indiana [QIR/#19]
SELECTION: Bulls in 5.

[4] Orlando [QIR/#3] vs [5] Atlanta [QIR/#15]
SELECTION: Magic in 7.

—————————————————————-

[2] Miami [QIR/#2] vs [7] Philadelphia [QIR/#13]
SELECTION: Heat in 5.

[3] Boston [QIR/#5] vs [6] New York [QIR/#25]
SELECTION: Celtics in 6.

===================================

Western Conference, Quarter-finals

[1] San Antonio [QIR/#7] vs [8] Memphis [QIR/#9]
SELECTION: Spurs in 5.

[4] Oklahoma City [QIR/#9] vs [5] Denver [QIR/#12]
SELECTION: Nuggets in 6.

—————————————————————-

[2] Los Angeles [QIR/#4] vs [7] New Orleans [QIR/#6]
SELECTION: Lakers in 5.

[3] Dallas [QIR/#7] vs [6] Portland [QIR/#11]
SELECTION: Trail Blazers in 6.

——————————————-

PS. You might also benefit from knowing that no other “NBA Analyst” has forecast more playoff series accurately, in advance, over the course of the last 4 years, than yours truly.

Related:

What It Takes To Win The NBA Championship